How to Free Up Space on the C Drive in Windows 10

Lee Stanton April 16, 2022

Even though storage has never been so inexpensive, for many Windows 10 users, there can never be quite enough. Storage is precious if you’re a videographer or cryptocurrency enthusiast, so it’s good to know a few practical ways to free up space on your C Drive.

How to Free Up Space on the C Drive in Windows 10

The good news is that the Windows operating system has several built-in strategies that can help you maximize your C Drive storage space.

Remembering to empty the recycle bin is important but doesn’t typically make any significant difference. So, we’ll provide you with a guide on using a few other solutions.

Free Up Space on the C Drive with Windows Storage Settings

There is one feature all Windows computers have in common – the operating system is stored in the C Drive. Your computer may have other drives, but this is the default drive.

Therefore, when explaining how to free up space with the Windows Storage settings, it is implied we’re discussing the C Drive.

Freeing up space in Windows 10 is a relatively simple process, though you need to know how to access all the necessary settings. Here is where you start:

From the Start menu, choose Settings.
Select “System.”
From the left-side pane, click on “Storage.”

By following these steps, you’re in Windows 10 Storage settings. Under “Windows (C:),” you’ll see precisely how much storage is used and what amount is available.

You will also see how the used storage space is categorized. The category that uses the most space will be at the top, followed by the second biggest, and so on.

Typically, the “System & reserved” section is the largest as it contains all the vital system files Windows uses to run correctly. Ideally, users should leave this section alone.

How to Remove Unused Apps in Windows 10

For most Windows 10 users, the “Apps & features” category is where they can make the most significant impact in terms of freeing up space.

It’s entirely possible there’s an app or two that you’ve forgotten about that’s sitting there, taking up a lot of space. Here’s how you can remove it:

From Storage settings, click on the “Apps & features” category.
You can browse through the list of apps or search them with the search bar.
When you find an app you want to remove, select it.
Click “Uninstall” and confirm.

The app will automatically be removed, thus freeing up space on the C Drive. You can repeat this process as many times as needed.

It’s important to point out that if your computer has any other drives, such as Drive D, you will also have the option to “Move” a specific app to another drive instead of uninstalling it.

How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows 10

Another efficient way to free up space by using the Storage settings in Windows is to delete documents you don’t need, but that can take a while, and sometimes you need to free up space urgently. That’s why it’s better to delete Windows temporary files. These are the steps to follow:

From the list of Storage categories, select “Temporary files.”
Your computer will scan the C Drive and prepare the groups of files you can delete.
You will have the option to choose from groups of files, such as “Thumbnails” or “Windows upgrade log files” and similar. Next to each, you’ll see exactly how much free space you’d get.
When you select the groups of files, click the “Remove files” button.

Note that you’ll find the “Downloads” group of files in this category, so unless you are sure you want to delete these files, de-select them.

How to Use Storage Sense Feature to Free Up Space on the C Drive

A fantastic way to ensure you always have enough storage space on the C Drive is to utilize Storage Sense. This feature is available on Windows 10 and 11 and was designed to automatically clear up files you don’t need to maximize storage space.

By default, Storage Sense is disabled on your computer, but you can ensure it works to your advantage with a few clicks and settings. Here’s how to enable and configure Storage Sense in Windows 10 and 11.

Go to Start, then Settings, followed by “System.”
Choose “Storage” from the left-side pane.
Right under “Storage,” you’ll find the Storage Sense toggle button. Move it from “Off” to “On.”
Under the toggle button, click on the “Configure Storage Sense or run it now” option.
Choose when to run Storage Sense (during low free disk space or particular time intervals.)
Select whether to delete the recycle bin files and temporary files automatically.
Choose whether OneDrive content will be impacted or not.

If you don’t want to go through these settings and only want to perform this clean-up one time, select the “Clean now” button, then promptly turn the toggle button to “Off.”

How to Use Disc Cleanup Feature to Free Up Space on the C Drive in Windows 10

Another super quick way to remove unneeded files from your C Drive is to use the Windows Disk Cleanup feature. It is a straightforward utility, available on all active versions of the Windows operating system. Follow these steps to use it correctly:

In the search bar, enter “Disk Cleanup” and open the app.
From the pop-up window, proceed to select the files you want to delete, such as “Downloaded Program Files” or “Temporary Internet Files.”
Once you check the boxes next to your selection, click “OK.”
Another pop-up window will appear, asking you to confirm your choice. Select “Delete Files.”

Note: You can also select the “Clean up system files” from the first pop-up window. However, you will need to have administrative privileges to access this option. If it is your personal computer, that’s not going to be a problem.

How to Free Up Space on the C Drive in Windows 11

If you’ve upgraded from Windows 10 to 11, there are a few more solutions you can try that can free up some space on your C Drive.

Namely, you can archive apps you don’t use very often instead of deleting them. Perhaps you want to save yourself the trouble of re-installing them at some point. It’s a simple enough process, and here’s how it works:

Click on Start, followed by “System” and then “Apps.”
Select Apps and Features after clicking “apps.”
After you’ve chosen your “Apps and Features,” go to “More Settings.”
Click on Archive Apps from the drop-down settings.
Under “Archive app,” move the toggle button from “Off” to “On.”
Alternatively, enter “Automatically archive infrequently used applications” in the search bar from the settings and select to open.

Keep in mind that you’re letting Windows decide which apps are to be archived by choosing this option. You will need to disable this feature if you notice that an app you need is archived.

How to Disable Hibernation in Windows 10 and 11

Both Windows 10 and 11 are automatically configured to utilize the Hibernation mode for your benefit. When you close your laptop, your computer doesn’t shut down but preserves power and allows you quickly to go back to work when you open it.

The same goes for your PC – all you need to do is hit space or move your mouse, and you can go back to what you were doing. But this benefit comes at a price and storage on the C Drive. If you’re in a bind for storage space, disabling Hibernation mode can help. This is how you do it:

Go to the search bar, enter “PowerShell,” and click on “Run as Administrator.”
Enter this command “ <code>powercfg /hibernate off </code>”.

You won’t get any confirmation that the command worked by design. But you can go to the Storage settings and see if you can see Hibernation files under the “System & reserved” category.

Bear in mind that not having access to Hibernation mode can be detrimental to your laptop’s battery. It also means you’ll need to shut down your PC whenever you’re not using it for extended periods. But if it gets you the storage you need in a specific situation, it can indeed be helpful.

Getting All the Free Space C Drive Needs

Making sure you’re using Storage settings, including the Storage Sense feature, can improve your overall Windows 10 experience.

Even if you have storage space to spare, deleting unnecessary apps and files will keep the machine running more efficiently. Going through the Disk Cleanup utility tool can deliver enough space when installing a new video game or building a crypto mining rig.

These efforts can go a long way, but sometimes only an external drive or cloud storage subscription can save the day.

What is your go-to system for freeing up space on your drives? Let us know in the comments section below.